COVID-19 Symptoms include loss of sense of smell/taste, fever, muscle aches, headache, dry cough, shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, blue toes. For more information check out our COVID-19 Symptom Guide below or download our handout here!
Isolation = STAY HOME w/ separate room/ bathroom, avoid any social contact for 10 days after positive test or until symptoms resolved 72hr, whichever is longer.
Notify contacts from past 2 weeks they should quarantine for 14 days & monitor for symptoms
Keep at least 6 feet from anyone and wear a mask in any public or shared space
Cough into your elbow or a tissue and discard it immediately
Wash hands often for 20sec and wipe down all commonly touched surfaces multiple times daily – especially phones, keyboards, doorknobs/handles. Cleaner options:
dilute bleach solution 2T chlorine bleach to 1 quart water
60-90% isopropyl alcohol wipe or spray (high proof vodka less effective =40% alcohol)
Wash clothing, towels, linens, cloth masks frequently at hottest temperature allowable
Close lid when flushing toilet (add chlorine tab in toilet tanks)
Use nebulizer medications in closed room– nebulizer use can aerosolize COVID-19 virus
Dry clean garments or in dryer dry-cleaning after every wearing
Disinfect hampers and trash receptacles often
NOTE: 80% of patients have mild symptoms, require no medical evaluation or testing, and can manage symptoms safely at home with NO intervention
Dry Cough
Fever (over 100.4 present in majority at some point in illness)
Shortness of breath (unable to hold in a deep breath for 10 sec or pain with deep breath)
Fatigue
Headache or muscle aches
Sore throat (note: runny nose or sneezing not typical with COVID-19)
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in <10%
“Long-haul” Symptoms up to 80% of even mild cases may experience relapsing or chronic symptoms lasting several months or long-term including:
Fevers
Neurologic (brain fog, numbness, shooting pains, prolonged disorders of smell/taste, hearing loss, headache, dizziness, autonomic nervous system impairment, stroke)
Cardiovascular (blood clots, heart attacks, cardiac inflammation, racing heart, palpitations)
Respiratory (shortness of breath, cough, low oxygen, lung scarring/fibrosis)
Dermatologic (abnormal bruising, rashes)
GI (chronic diarrhea)
Psychiatric (depression, anxiety, PTSD)
NOTE: LifeScape offers a 3-month Functional Medicine Intensive support program for anyone with long-haul symptoms from COVID-19 or other infections. https://health.lifescapepremier.com/covid-19-resources-support
Deep Breaths: 10 times every hour while awake or walk for 10 min a couple times daily
Nutrition: Healthy diet rich in greens, cruciferous vegetables, colorful fruits and vegetables, bone broths, lean proteins, healthy fats, and some fermented foods is superior immune support to any supplement. Green drinks or smoothies with spirulina may provide immune support. Ginger, garlic, onions, herbs, and turmeric also immune supporting.
Raw organic honey helpful for throat irritation or cough.
Hydrate: drink plenty of liquids including organic teas and broths/soups
Natural sunlight or UV exposure through Healthy wave mat (comdiscount code lifescape10) or similar for 10-20min once or twice daily may be supportive
OTC meds:
Zinc gluconate or Acetate lozenges or sprays if available – used every 2hr from first onset of symptoms for 5-7 days may shorten the duration of colds (Caution: long-term zinc only under medical guidance – balance of zinc/copper critical)
Guaifenesin/Mucinex 600-1200mg to keep secretions thin, easy to clear
Salt water gargles and saline nose sprays liberally to thin and clear secretions
Xlear sinus max if significant nasal congestion (unusual with COVID-19)
OTC cough medicines like Robitussin marginally helpful; raw honey shown to be more effective than most cough medicines
AVOID:
Sedating or drying cough/cold medicines like Nyquil/Dayquil or antihistamine-containing cold/flu medicines which thicken secretions, prevent mucous clearance and promote mucous plugging of airways worsening risk for pneumonia, sinusitis
Avoid suppressing FEVER with Tylenol or ibuprofen – fever helps fight infection so support fever by drinking more fluids rather than suppressing your immune response
Cough suppressants should be limited as again they prevent the immune system from working to clear out mucous, debris and virus.
Supplements/Herbs: At present, there are NO supplements, herbs or medications proven to prevent or treat COVID-19. Always work with a skilled medical professional to guide personalized supplement recommendations. Timing and dosage vary based on other medications, medical issues, symptom complex, and stage of infection. Many immune support supplements are backordered due to high demand.
Maintain therapeutic levels of Vitamin D (50-80 ng/mL goal– toxic in excess), Vitamin A (1000-10,000iu daily also toxic in excess), and Vitamin C (1-3 grams daily)
Immune support nutrients to consider: Spirulina, Alpha lipoic acid, NAC or Liposomal Glutathione, Quercetin, Curcumin, EGCG, Resveratrol, Glucosamine Sulfate, Beta 1,3 Glucan, Selenium (toxic in excess), Melatonin, PEA, Zinc
Immune support herbs to consider: rhodiola, cordyceps and reishi mushroom, gingko biloba, Chinese skullcap, glycerrhiza/licorice, berberine, cinnamon, dong quai, astragalus, elderberry
NAC 600-900mg twice daily
Quercetin or BCQ twice daily
Andrographis twice daily
Vitamin C 1000mg daily
Melatonin 1-3mg nightly